"Here's my problem with email," Jane*, a lawyer friend of mine told me recently, "I open Outlook expecting to quickly check my email, but then I read an email with a link in it, I follow the link, and then I'm lost on the internet for hours." "My … [Read more...]
Coping with Email Overload
April 26, 2012 By 1 Comment
A few weeks ago, I returned from a week-long technology-free vacation with my family. No computer, no phone, no email. When I got to the office and checked my computer, I had hundreds of email messages waiting for me. I took a deep breath and … [Read more...]
Do You Need a Checkup?
April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I had been feeling a little odd; a number of minor physical discomforts were leading me to feel anxious about my health in general. And that anxiety was subtly getting in the way of my performance. I was a little less focused. A little more … [Read more...]
How to Start the Big Project You’ve Been Putting Off
February 13, 2012 By 2 Comments
I want to write a screenplay. I wanted to write one last year, but other work took more time than I expected, and I kept pushing "write screenplay" off my to-do list. I know I'm not alone in struggling to make incremental progress on long-term … [Read more...]
The Biggest Myth in Time Management
January 24, 2012 By 3 Comments
Brad* is as hard a worker as anyone I know. He's not just busy, he's keenly focused on getting the right things done. And it pays off — he is the largest single revenue generator at his well-known professional services firm. A few days before … [Read more...]
Keeping Resolutions: How to Focus on What’s Important: My ABC News Interview (watch past the commercial)
January 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
When Nothing Works
December 5, 2011 By 5 Comments
I'd had tendinitis in my elbow for over a year. Even something as gentle as twisting a doorknob made me wince in pain. I went to see my brother, Bertie, who also happens to be my doctor. As Bertie examined my elbow, I reminded him of everything I … [Read more...]
Restore Yourself to Your Factory Default Settings
November 22, 2011 By 6 Comments
My wireless connection to the internet had suddenly stopped working. At first I was frustrated — I had been in the middle of browsing some books on Amazon. But I quickly took it as a blessing. I had an article to write and the Amazon browsing was a … [Read more...]
What’s Your One Big Theme?
October 13, 2011 By 1 Comment
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year, the time when we think about our past year and plan for our next. What do I want to repeat? What do I want to do differently? I usually start with everything I want to do differently. And the list is … [Read more...]
Inc Magazine Interview: Mastering Distraction in 18 Minutes
September 26, 2011 By 1 Comment
There is a better way to focus your time on what you value the most - and say no to the rest. It begins with a mere 18 Minutes. Interview by Marla Tabaka. Do you ever get to the end of a busy day only to realize that next to nothing has been taken … [Read more...]
